This thread is so inspiring. I am in awe of those of you who can make actual clothing!

I'm finally knitting again after about a two-year hiatus. It's been longer than that since I've been serious about it, as evidenced by the fact that I my yarn stash is entirely pregan. I plan to give a lot of my unused yarn away, but am going to use some of it while I'm getting the swing of things again.

Right now, I'm working on the Shetland Triangle Lace Shawl. Don't ask me why I thought lace would be the best thing to start with after not having picked up any needles for years. It took a couple of hours of false starts last night for me to remember all the stitches; for some reason, it took me forever to remember how to cast on, but sk2p came easily. So far, I've done about five repeats of the main pattern section, and I find the pattern to be fairly easy.

And yes, the relative dearth of beautiful vegan yarns is so AWFUL. I am not even going to torture myself by going to the local yarn store. I've been considering some stuff from Vegan Yarn, which is really the only place I've found so far that has yarn I like.

My best friend knocked up his wife (they'd been trying for a bit). My other best friend insisted that I knit something for the baby. So... I'm knitting them a blanket!

This one but with black as the main color and grey/silver as the stripes, using this yarn. I just did my swatch and got gauge using size 6 / 4mm Inox needles. The yarn is tiny bit splitty, but so soft and nice feeling! The splittiness was mostly noticable during cast on, not so bad while actually knitting.

I haven't knit much in the last couple of years. For some reason I was struggling purling with the yarn in my left hand, so I guess I'm doing this one up holding the yarn in my right hand. I used to be proficient either way. I'll find some less slippery yarn and needles and get the left hand purling back down.

Once I have something that is more than a ball of yarn and needles, I'll get a picture!

Edited to add: is "knocked up" inappropriate? I've realized some of my normal terminology is ok within my friend group, but not so appreciated online. Anyway, my best friend and his wife are expecting a wee little human and I'm super happy for him!

It's raining. I feel like yarn-shopping today. Yarn shopping, then curling-up with my PVR and tea and getting a few dozen more rows done on this baby blanket I'm working on.

Can anyone suggest a pattern for a quick-knit baby blanket? I have 2 more to make before October.

_________________Yay, and verily he said unto them, "Eat this nooch for it tastes kind of like cheese, and drink this kombucha for it is awesome. And don't be a vegan hating douche because no one likes an asshat." - DancesWithTofu

_________________Yay, and verily he said unto them, "Eat this nooch for it tastes kind of like cheese, and drink this kombucha for it is awesome. And don't be a vegan hating douche because no one likes an asshat." - DancesWithTofu

I need some button advice! The baby cardi has buttons running all along the edge and I'm not sure if I should do something cutesy like ladybugs, or something more flashy like gold or pewter, or just a shiny white or cream button. The hat needs a button at the top and I don't know if I should do a contrasting color (the matching non-striped outfit is lilac) or stick with just a flat boring gray button or something more ornate.

I don't have the greatest eye for this thing, but I would say no to the ladybug buttons because I think the red of the ladybugs would be lost against the colour of the sweater (magenta?). I'd go for something contrasting like white or cream.

As for the hat, I think a bright yellow would look good, but really any colour could go with that!

I need my friends to have babies, I love knitting baby stuff! Adult sweaters take too damn long to make.

_________________I like my bagels like I like my men - big and covered with earth balance & nooch. - Bunniee

those are so awesome!I would go with white buttons for exactly the reason lobster says. As for the hat, I am more of a fan of making loops on the top instead of buttons, just because it would have to be big to be interesting and big buttons on a hat may end up in baby's mouth. (mothering paranoia, i still haz it)

i have been working so much that i have been taking a break from knitting- too much typing plus too much knitting makes my carpal tunnels get very nervous. I have an infinity cowl on needles but it's taking a long time. I am going to go yarn shopping this week though and hope I find something good.

so, bitchin stitchers and stitchin witches,i bought myself a yard or two of thishttp://www.joann.com/anti-pill-fleece-p ... 12015418a/and i have no idea what to do with it. it's REALLY soft, like softer than i would have expected fleece to be. i`d prefer something more interesting than a blanket, and i`m a knitter and a scarf addict, so scarf or gloves also isn`t my first choice.what would you do with it? I forget if it's a yard and a half or two, but conceivably if there is an awesome project i could go and get more, since it seems to still be in stock.